getting lucky

This past weekend was a weekend for getting lucky. Not the kind of luck you're thinking, come on- head out of the gutter!

Friday night, we went to Amelia's birthday party at Davanni's. Amelia turned three, she's one of the girls in Jaxon's daycare. It was one of our first outings in big boy underwear, no pullups. So, when Jaxon told me he had to go potty, I thought, boy we are getting somewhere! He's been doing such a great job with the potty training (and secretly I like to credit myself because of my attitude change!), so off to the restroom we went. I had brought along our travel potty seat- you basically put it on top of the adult seats so that they don't feel like they'll fall in.

Now, here's where we all need a little luck...

Jaxon sat right up there and started peeing, but somehow it ended up all over my shirt. A nice big wet ring in the center of my t-shirt. My jeans were not spared either. I had a flyaway cardigan on over my shirt though- Lucky. And it was the end of the party and we were headed home. Also- Lucky.

Saturday I ran the Get Lucky 7K in Minneapolis. It was really cold to start, but I had a great run and along the way saw some adoring fans. Scott ended up taking Jaxon and Kiley out to see me run--

Lucky? Oh yes, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. So wonderful to have such an amazing husband who has been at almost all of my races, supporting me every slow step of the way ;-)

Definately Lucky.

And Kiley. Well, when she projectile vomited all over me on Friday night, I guess you could say I felt Lucky that Scott was there to help me clean it up. And very Lucky that we had clean clothes and fresh cribsheets for her, especially given my ability to walk on by the laundry now ;-)

Here's to feeling Lucky!

little leprechauns

I'm not Irish, but I guess I like to think I am. I've been to Ireland twice in my life and it's definately a place I could see myself going back, over and over. It's got a lot of history, beautiful scenery, and amazing people. So I always get a little giddy on this day and it reminds me of the good times I had back in the Emerald Isle.

And it gives me a reason to cut out little footprints again!

Last year we had a visit from the Easter Bunny and I had Jaxon follow the footprints all over our house to his Easter basket. Today, we had a visit from some leprechauns! We were joking about them stealing Jaxon's underwear the other night, and so I had to chuckle to myself when I stepped outside this morning and saw a pair of his briefs on the garage door steps.. I must have dropped them... or perhaps a little green fellow slipped into the house? We'll never know.

Now, On to the little leprechauns.

I think I derive great pleasure from my own sense of humor. I'm sure when my kids are 13 and 15 and I'm still hiding their pots of gold or Easter baskets with little footprints all over the house, they are gonna think I'm crazy. But, eventually, when they're like 30 or so, they'll remember.

And they'll be doing it for their kids.

It all started when we saw those green little tracks through the house. Look over there! Someone's been here!! 

 All footprints lead to this door...

 That leprechaun didn't steal my underpants! He actually brought me a bag of stuff!

Jaxon, campaigning for me to help him open his bag, thinking that a leprechaun might actually pop out!

Kiley wasn't too sure about the whole leprechaun thing and decided to wait it out in her carseat. Smart. You never know Kiley. You never know.

serenity prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

I've been thinking alot lately... and so this will be one of those random 'Brenna's inner mind' posts, but not really for any of you. In fact, you might feel like an intruder reading it, but it's out there, so it's available to you if you want to share in the revelations. It's really more about me, and documenting where I'm at in my life, so that one day, when I pay $1257.98 to have this blog turned into a book the size of a dictionary, my kids can look back and think- oh, that's what she was thinking.

No, I am not going to tell you I have tiger blood. Or that I am a warlock. (kids, those are Charlie Sheen references, just so you know I am hip to it.).

But I do hope that I will look back on this post often and remember the way I am feeling, and remember the simple changes I hope to be making moving forward....

For the past couple weeks, every now and then, Jaxon will ask, 'Mommy, you like me?'. He says it to Scott too. Now Scott may have me brush it off, thinking, he is just manipulating you again, trying to make you feel bad so you'll give him some more chocolate.

But I read into things. A bit much really. Or, perhaps I am knee deep in the trough of seasonal depressive disorder or just really friggin sick of winter (perhaps both as they are interrelated).

And so, I keep asking myself, why does Jaxon ask this question? Is it just a simple question, nothing to worry about? Or does it mean I've somehow failed at making my son realize I would love him no matter what (to which I promptly bought a children's book called 'No matter what' about this very thing).

So, I dug out my child-rearing books and have been trying to figure out just where I went wrong. Was it the iPhone 3G when I began to check my e-mail in front of him, which I'd never done before? Was it that I'm the last one picking him up sometimes because I had to sneak in a run so I can fit my jeans and make myself feel good? Was it that his sister is just as cute as he is, and I sometimes play with her more than I play with him, because I know she can't talk back to me yet, and I love the way she giggles and I miss how I used to do that with him?

When did I begin to say 'no' so much? When did I start to care about cleaning the counters and doing the dishes more than I cared about pretending to be a monster and hiding in laundry baskets? When did I begin to shush the sponge-like curiousity of my three year old, wanting to know how everything works and where the snow truck is bringing the snow and why the water in the gutter drain is frozen one day and dripping the next? When did I start turning the TV on to buy me a few minutes of precious peace and quiet so I could make dinner, instead of inviting a learning mind and excellent garlic peeler into the kitchen?

I know I've been doing this for a few years now... but why does it all seem so new again? What the hell?

And so...in an attempt to become a better mom, I will walk by the dirty dishes (at least until they are in bed, maybe just rinse them while cleaning up)... And I will let the laundry sit in the closet so we can hide in the baskets... And I will offer more choices, praise more, and soak up all the sillyness that comes my way- things like 'mom, you know who Justin Bieber is?' and 'your face is pretty', and 'i'm a dinasour, and you're a princess, and Kiley's a queen.'... I will really work on only checking e-mails after the kids are in bed...

I'm not perfect, I know that. I just always thought I was better than this... I guess it is a work in progress. I do know, that I want to look back on my life and know that I always made my kids feel loved, no matter what. That they can always feel like they can talk to me, share with me, laugh and cry with me (and Scott of course too ;-). I want to be remembered for being that fun mommy who danced around the room to the Black Eyed Peas and who ran around like a dinasour and then at a moment's command turned into an airplaine or a monster. I want my kids to remember me for so much more than having clean clothes and a decent looking house.

My dad always told me, you wake up in the morning and you choose your attitude.... so I'm choosing to be happy. To be loving, accepting, nurturing... to be the best mom, wife, friend, daughter I can be...

See... you feel like an intruder, don't you?

 

Getting away

Scott and I have been dreaming about getting away from it all for quite some time now... though we've been dreaming of an island oasis, on a beach, in the middle of nowhere... we settled on Friday for Treasure Island.

Casino.

In Red Wing, MN.

Not quite the same, but it certainly felt like an oasis after my first glass of wine. I'll admit, it took me awhile to relax and not think about the kids every second, wondering if they were going to be okay, freak out, or take total and complete advantage of Jenny.

Can you beleive it was our first night, both of us being away from the kids, in nearly three years?? I felt like a youngster again! We didn't think about getting home by 9 or 10... didn't have anyone asking a zillion questions at all times... didn't have anyone waking us up... and lo and behold we ate a decent breakfast, read the paper, and didn't have anyone interrupt us. It was glorious!!! Thank you Jenny for all your help- you are awesome!

So, what did our night entail? We bowled- Scott lost handily on the first game, but as is customary, I went downhill shortly after that (enter second glass of wine). He finished off with two turkeys and a 205. Not bad.

Then, we made our way to the arcade, and spent some time challenging each other to games such as air hockey, basketball, and shooting gallery. I clearly lost these challenges as well.

Moving on... we used up some complimentary slot play and walked away with $25. THen on to the blackjack where we paid for our hotel stay. And then to cosmic bingo where I thought about asking for a gas mask on my way in the door. Bingo was a bust, but I had fun dobbing.

It was so good to get away, but I found myself ready to go home, anxious to see the kids, hear how their nights were, and give them big hugs.

And, this is what I was greeted with this morning:

And now... I am ready for a really long nap and a day off...

riding in the car, the call, and lady gaga

Ride to daycare:
On the way to Nancy's the other day, I was driving and accidentally missed my turn a little bit, and ended up cutting it a little too close, going over the curb, just a tad.

Jaxon: 'Mommy, what happened?'
Mommy: 'Oh, I bumped the curb.'

Jaxon: You broke the car mommy?
Mommy: NO, I just bumped hte curb.

Jaxon: Okay, maybe next time we can turn better.
Mommy: Thanks Jaxon.

The Phone Call:
As parents, we often talk about 'the call'. You could be at work, in the middle of a meeting, grabbing your morning coffee, or working hard on an important presentation. And then you get, 'the call'. It's the kiss of death and you know the rest of your day and the next are going to be spent staying at home with a sick kid. Or a kid acting sick. Or some combination of sickness.

So, when I got 'the call' on Thursday, I was fully expecting to be notified that one of my kids had pink eye, or a fever, or the crazies from such a long winter. So I was pleasantly surprised to have Nancy call and tell me some good news-- Kiley cut her first tooth!

We'd been waiting in anticipation for this tooth to break through, as it means a little less cranky and a lot more cute.

Ride home: On the way home from Nancy's, the new Lady Gaga song came on the radio (one of the rare moments I was able to listen to 'music' and not the 'ABC's' CD.

Jaxon: 'What song is this mommy?
Mommy: 'It's the new Lady Gaga song.'

Jaxon: 'Oh. (thinking), It's not the one that says 'ra ra ooh aah aah', like in Daddy's car? You don't have that one?'
Mommy: 'Nope, it's her new one.'

Jaxon: next song comes on. What song is this mommy?
Mommy: I'm not sure.
Jaxon: I think it must be Katy Perry.

And there you have it. My son knows more about pop culture than I do.

milestones

To be nine again. Aaaaah.... nope, nevermind, wouldn't do it over.

My niece Zoe, however, is in the thick of it. Zoe reached a milestone this past week (and you would have heard about it sooner had blogger not erased my entire post last Monday night, leaving me tired and exhausted and upset). She turned into a nine-year old. One more year and she's officially a tweener.

So, last weekend, my parents came for a visit and we celebrated her birthday. Zoe decided she wanted to get her ears pierced so we all met up at Claire's in Maple Grove. Yes, you need an enterouge to get your ears pierced, complete with photographing grandmas and high fiving cousins.

It was a riot. Have you been in Claire's lately? Do you know how much kitschy stuff they pile into a 15X15 foot space? A lot.

I think we were there for about an hour... we were placing bets on first, if the poor 20 year old girl working would be able to get one ear pierced. Then, on whether or not Zoe would leave with just one ear pierced. It was comical to us, traumatic to her I'm sure.

 But, Jaxon and Grandpa were there supporting her every step of the way.

 We were there so long, Kiley was actually wondering if it was going to be her turn next. Not so fast missy. You're not getting your ears pierced until you are 21!

And, it almost made me want to get my eyebrow pierced again. LOL, did you know about that one mom?

But, at last, she went through with it and both ears looked beautiful with their little amethyst studs. And so, after telling a few more Justin Bieber jokes, trying on some Elton John oversized sunglasses, and doing a fashion show with plaid berets and scarves, we put the singamajigs back on the shelf and made our way over to Dave and Busters for 'the best food in the world' (according to a nine year old) and some fun games (according to a nine year old and my 32 year old husband).

 The kids had fun riding a roller coaster, winning things from giant claw machines, and pretending to drive even though he couldn't reach the pedals (Jaxon, not Scott).

One of the real milestones though, was not that Zoe turned nine, but rather that she used her new mind flexibility to win the cool cat from the giant claw machine. Nice. Happy Birthday Zoe ;-)

baloons and baguettes

Ah, Valentine's Day. We really have no idea why we celebrate it, what it's purpose is, or who St. Valentine really is. And yet, we do it anyway.

I remember my first Valentine's Day dating Scott.

We were juniors in high school.

I was on 'the jury' (the twelve smartest kids in class- apparently all the screw ups called us the jury because we thought we were better than anyone else. so not true!) in AP history/literature. Now, Scott was in the same class mind you, so he must have had some brains.

That or he just bs'd really good back then too (likely).

I remember walking into class in the morning and I was greeted with the biggest heart baloon you could ever imagine- Jaxon would call it 'the biggest one ever' in a really cool growly sort of voice.

Not only was there the biggest heart ballon ever. But there was a french baguette that had been hallowed out and a fresh single red rose placed inside. (baguettes were my signature breakfast- seriously, there is a reason I have a problem losing those last five pounds).

And so, my husband won me over with a bigger than life baloon that I had to leave in the classroom and pick up at the end of the day and a hallow baguette.

This Valentine's Day... we spent Saturday night out with friends and I won our bowling match, winning me the opportunity to sleep in. Sadly, I only slept in until 8:30 as Jaxon woke up vomitting and didn't stop all day. Luckily we had crafted all our Valentines the day before:

Jaxon decorated his bags all by himself and we filled them with goodies for our friends at Nancy's. At one point, he looked at me and said, 'This is fun mommy. I'm having fun.'.

And that's really all a super mom can ask for right? That her kid has fun with the things she thinks are supposed to be fun?

Today, however, not so fun. Not for Jaxon anyway. He spent the day on the couch in front of the TV- second monday in a row. If he had a job, I might start wondering if there was a pattern to his calling in sick... 3 year olds aren't that smart are they??

But, Kiley is healthy so far. She got to go to Nancy's for the Valentine's party today. Here she is in her new pink shirt and heart pants trying to grab the glowworm.

 And falling for the gloworm... while trying to eat him and grab Jaxon's crayons at the same time.

While I love my high school memories of Valentine's Day with the baloons and baguettes, it is certainly fun to create new memories with Kiley and Jaxon and to let them in on the secret of Valentine's Day-- it's really just an excuse to get some candy and flowers. Happy Valentine's day!